American Lexi Thompson has a local car salesman helping steer her to victory at the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie.
Thompson, 26, is contesting a ninth Women’s Open but still looking for a second major in 55 major appearances.
She heads into the weekend rounds at five-under par and just two shots off the lead and if she should win a second after her 2014 breakthrough triumph it will all be thanks to Paul Drummond, a 31-year-old Carnoustie car dealer.
Drummond, who plays off plus-two, works PD Cars, a family business in Carnoustie run by former husband and wife police officers Mark and Patricia Drummond. Paul is their son and he has been with the firm for 11-years as the Business Development Manager. He also caddies in his spare time.
Lexi Thompson has Carnoustie car salesman Paul Drummond helping steer her to victory at this week’s AIG Women’s Open (Photo – Getty/LET)
He teamed-up with the 14-time pro career winning American who arrived in Scotland without her regular caddie.
“I was ready to caddie if I was needed but not for a moment expecting to caddie for Lexi Thompson,” said Drummond.
“The caddie master here at Carnoustie recommended me when she arrived looking for a caddie, so he put me in touch with Lexi.
“She’s pretty good fun. I’m a fairly decent player myself, but really, I’m just reading greens and yardages. Obviously if you’ve played here often enough you get to know the greens like the back of your hand.”
Thompson remarked: “Paul’s been great as he knows the golf course like the back of his hand and I fully trust him.
“All of my shots have been very important with his advice because he tells me how it’s going to bounce in front of the green and how it’s going to roll up and where I should land it.
“I’m fully trusting him on his numbers and whether to hit it left or right of the pin, and he’s been spot on.”
As for Drummond’s Scottish accent? Thompson said: “Paul is speaking a little slower than he would normally and that’s helped me to understand him, so we’re getting on fine”.
Thompson doesn’t use a yardage book and heavily relies on her caddie for distances. When she’s been in between caddies in the past, she’s had her brother, Curtis, or her father, Scott, help. Last week, Curtis earned his PGA Tour card via the Korn Ferry Tour.
Four years ago, when Kingsbarns Links hosted the Women’s Open, Thompson grabbed former prolific-winning Scottish amateur, Kevin McAlpine to caddie for her, and with Thompson so impressed she signed him to work full time.
Earlier this year, McAlpine teamed-up with Denver-based Scot Martin Laird.
Footnote —
In contacting PD Cars we learn that Paul’s father, Mark was in ‘hot water’ as it was his 33rd wedding anniversary but he forgot to mention it to his wife. Hopefully, if Paul does caddy for the winner it may help ease his father’s pain.
